Breaking the Silence: The Role and Challenges of Whistleblowing in Disrupting Corruption Systems in Ethiopia and South Africa

Widespread consensus exists that there can be no sustainable development without addressing corruption. Deeply embedded corruption systems threaten institutions, welfare, and democracy. In recent work assessing Ethiopia and South Africa we have proposed a framework for exposing corruption systems with several indicators to assess the enabling conditions necessary for combating corruption systems. Our findings underscore the critical role of whistleblowers, principled leadership, and enabling conditions in building resilient democratic institutions to counteract corruption systems in both countries who face similar challenges where corruption systems are endemic and those who speak out and blow the whistle against abuses of power risk their lives and livelihoods. While the individual actions of whistleblowers and principled leadership to expose corruption systems are necessary, we argue that they are not sufficient. A “virtuous circle” of legislation for protecting whistleblowers, entrenching a culture of principled leadership, and establishing enabling conditions (such as a free media) for both is crucial. This virtuous circle has a potential ripple effect in building resilient democratic institutions as a buffer against corruption systems and hereby advancing the UN Agenda 2030 and Africa Agenda 2063. But what if citizens have lost faith in democracy and trust in the very institutions and systems that are meant to prevent abuses of power? What does this mean for encouraging a culture of whistleblowing where it is socially acceptable and expected to blow the whistle to preserve the public good? This paper looks at recent findings from surveys such as those conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa where respondents say that speaking out against corruption is highly unlikely in a context of deep inequality (where reliance on neighbours and community is essential) and where mistrust in democracy and its institutions, including whistle-blower protection laws, is at an all-time high.